Dear Donovan,

How do I go about starting a detox programme?

— Howard

Good day Howard,

The matter of detoxification is one that I have touched on in a number of my previous columns. A detox programme is very important to remove undigested foods from the stomach, which can make the body more toxic. When the body becomes toxic, over time you may become sick.

There are certain ways you can tell that your body has become toxic. They are:

1. Poor skin tone — blotchy skin, etc

2. Weak immune system — getting a cold every week

3. Overweight/underweight

4. Low energy levels

5. Excessive gas

6. Constipation

7. Large stomach/waist

8. Poor strength management

The body can become toxic due to a number of factors, however, I will focus on one way, which is by the food we eat. Our food is supposed to be our sustenance, but due to lifestyle changes over the years, we have started to eat too much of the wrong combinations. We also eat too late at nights and consume far too many processed foods. What is happening now is that the rate at which we are putting in food is greater than the body's ability to process it. Therefore, the average person has a lot of waste coating the intestinal walls, which leads to the development of bacteria.

With mounds of waste just sitting around in the body, it gradually becomes inactive and bacteria and other micro-organisms will start to break it down inside out. This breakdown of unabsorbed foods will trigger a lot of toxins and this toxic situation creates the ideal atmosphere for diseases to thrive. It is therefore very important to remove excess toxins from the body. This process is called detoxification.

There are usually two major ways in which a detoxification programme works. Some programmes withdraw or eliminate toxins from the body, while others maximise the body's potential to eliminate them. Before starting a detox programme, it is important that you consult with a qualified health professional.

The matter of detoxification is still a controversial one. Many health professionals argue that doing so will remove all of the toxins from the body or that it is not necessary. Detoxifying the body has been around for a long time, and some of the methods used include:

1. The use of detox/bush tea such as cerrassie, aloe vera, etc

2. Colon cleanse

3. Detox tablets

4. Fasting programmes

5. Juice fasting for as much as six days.

It is important to note that after doing a detox programme, you will need to change your eating habits so you can keep your system clean. In case you had missed my earlier publications on detoxification, here is a sample diet you can try for two days to detoxify:

On waking, drink one glass of water

Breakfast:

Drink 12 ounces of green juice (callaloo, string bean, cucumber, green sweet pepper etc)

Mid-morning:

Drink 12 ounces of green juice again.

Lunch:

Drink 12 ounces of carrot juice.

Mid-afternoon:

Drink one glass of carrot juice again.

Dinner:

Drink one glass of coconut water.

We will answer your weight- related questions

Are you struggling to lose weight or just need some advice on living a healthier life? Tell us about your health issues and we'll have nutritionist and wellness coach Donovan Grant answer them for you. Grant has over 12 years experience in the fitness industry and is the owner of DG's Nutrition and Wellness Centre, Suite 16, 39 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 5. Send your questions to wilsonn@jamaicaobserver.com.